I am interested to know has anyone here decided not to have children because of the risk of severe OCD resulting in a terrible life? How has that experience been for you? I am going through this myself at the moment but of course my OCD makes me doubt every decision I ever make. One minute I want something, the next minute I don’t!
This is not my only reason for being childfree, but one of them: I don't want to pass a mental disorder on my child, and I don't want to be that one mentally unstable parent that can turn their offspring's life into a nightmare.
Yes I feel the same! But every time I feel like I have got somewhere with making this decision I then question myself again. I guess this is the OCD! I am starting to see that I probably need specialised help for OCD. I have been through counselling and talking therapy but even though I feel in a better place after that I never seem to really recover fully and it comes back again.
@Positive Persona I’d like to add another reason I will never have them is because I’m such a. Control freak I’m stressed when I find my things in a different place to when I left them imagine kids IMAGINE the things my ocd will come up with it’s impossible to control them and this will restrict and ruin their lives I’m not fit to be a parent and that’s okay
Yes. There are a few reasons but one is my mental heath- I know the risk of an episode is higher during pregnancy/post partum - also I wouldnt want to have be a mentally unstable parent to my child or pass it onto them.
I feel this!
Ditto. It's not only reason but it's a strong reason.
I relate with this. I have several disorders and fear them growing up resenting me.
Thanks all for your comments! Something I have realised is I think my obsession with thinking I want kids has actually been an ocd theme in itself! 🤯 then the realisation that I don’t want the stress that comes with it all! OCD is crazy and I can’t believe I haven’t been able to see it until now
How did you decide whether or not to have children? My psychologist tells me that people with contamination ocd can be great parents but I just don’t know how I will possibly be able to handle it. My partner wants children and I think I do too but I’m just not sure if it’s the right choice for someone like me. I can’t take care of a human being if I go back to having full-on breakdowns and constant panic. Any advice or personal experience is appreciated.
Does anyone with POCD have children? I want to have children in the future, but the idea of it really scares me because of my fears. Something I have been learning in therapy is not to make fear-based decisions. So it’s definitely something I want to do, but I just wanna know some of your experiences with this.
Struggling with a moral dilemma - I really want to have kids eventually, but I also have OCD. Even though my experience of the condition has been mild, I still wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, and I would feel really bad if a child inherited it from me. I think this might be reassurance-seeking, but I can't tell. If it is, I'm sorry.
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond
